BOOK was Felez Muñoz; and he said to them, For the love of God VIII. take heart and let us be gone; for the Infantes will soon seek for me, and if God do not befriend us we shall all be slain. And Doña Sol said to him in her great pain, Cousin, for all that our father hath deserved at your hands, give us water. Felez Muñoz took his hat and filled it with water and gave it to them. And he comforted them and bade them take courage, and besought them to bear up. And he placed them upon his horse, and covered them both with his cloak, and led them through the oak forest, into the thickest part thereof, and there he made a bed of leaves and of grass, and laid them on it, and covered them with his cloak, and he sate down by them and began to weep, for he knew not what he should do; for he had no food, and if he went to seek it, great danger was there because they were wounded and bloody, that the wild beasts and the birds of the mountain would attack them; and on the other Cid. 2774. hand, unless he went to his uncle the Cid, to tell him of this wickedness, none other knew what had been done, and thus there would be no vengeance taken.

Poema del

2819

Chr. del Cid. cap. 240.

Chr. Gen. f. 287.

How Pero Sanchez and the other

nights de

antes.

XVI. While Felez Muñoz was in this great trouble the Infantes joined their company, and their spurs were bloody and fied the In- their hands also from the wounds which they had given their wives. And when their people saw them in this plight, and that their wives were not with them, they weened that some wickedness had been done; and all they who were of good heart and understanding among them went apart, to the number of an hundred, with one who was named Pero Sanchez; and he spake unto them, saying, Friends, these Infantes have done a foul deed upon their wives, the daughters of our Lord the Cid; and they are our liege Ladies, for we did homage to them before their father, and accepted them as such; and the Cid made us knights that we should discharge the duty which we owe to

VIII.

them. Now then, it behoveth us that we arm ourselves, and BOOK
demand of the Infantes what they have done with our ladies,
and require them at their hands. And if they will not deliver
them to us, then will we fight against them even to death; for
thus shall we do right, and otherwise we shall be ill spoken of,
and not worthy to live in the world. This was the counsel which
Pero Sanchez gave, and they all held it good and did accordingly.
And the Infantes, when they saw them coming and heard their
demand, were greatly afraid, and they said, Go to the fountain
in the Oak-forest of Corpes, and there ye may find them; we
left them safe and sound, and no harm have we done unto them;
but we would not take them with us. Ill have ye done, replied
and the daughters of such

those knights, to forsake such wives,
a father, and ill will ye fare for it! And from henceforward, we
renounce all friendship with ye, and defy ye for the Cid, and
for ourselves, and for all his people. And the Infantes could not
reply. And when they saw that the Infantes did not answer, they
said, Get ye gone for traitors and false caitiffs; there is no way
in the world by which ye can escape from the enemies whom ye
have now made! But for all this the Infantes made no reply,
and went their way.

Chr. del Cid. cap. 24.

Chr. Gen. f. 287.

their complaint to the

XVII. Pero Sanchez and those other knights rode back How those to the green lawn in the Oak-forest, where they had left the dames; and when they came to the fountain they saw that there King was blood round about, but the dames were not there; and they were greatly troubled, and knew not where to seek them. And they went about the forest seeking them, calling them aloud, and making great lamentation for the ill that had befallen, and also, because they could not find them. Now Felez Muñoz and the women heard their voices, and were in great fear, for they weened that it was the Infantes and their company, who were returned with intent to kill them; and in their great

VIII.

BOOK fear they remained still, and would fain have been far from that place. So Pero Sanchez and they who were with him went about seeking them in vain. Then spake up a knight called Martin Ferrandez, who was a native of Burgos, saying, Friends, it boots us to turn back from hence and follow after the Infantes, and do battle with them, even unto death, because of this wickedness which they have committed, rather than return to the Cid; for if we do not strive to take vengeance, we are not worthy to appear before him. And if, peradventure, we cannot come up with them upon the road, let us go before the King Don Alfonso, and discover unto him this foul deed, and tell him the truth thereof, to the intent that he may order justice to be done for such a thing; for certes, greatly will he be troubled when he knoweth it, and greatly will he be incensed against them, inasmuch as he it was who besought the Cid to give them his daughters to wife. And we will not depart from the King's house, nor take unto ourselves any other Lord till the Cid shall have obtained justice in this matter. And all those knights held this counsel to be good, and agreed to do so. And they took their way and followed after the Infantes as fast as they could, taking no rest; but the Infantes had ridden away full speed, and they could not overtake them. And when they saw this they went their way to King Don Alfonso who was at Palencia, and they came before him and kissed his hands, and then with sorrowful hearts told him of the evil which had befallen the Cid, in this dishonour done unto his daughters by the Infantes of Carrion. And when the King heard it he was grievously offended, as one who had great part therein; and he said unto them, It must needs be, that before many days we shall receive tidings of this from the Cid Campeador, and then upon his complaint we will enter Chr. delCid. into the business in such wise, that every one shall have justice. Then Pero Sanchez and the other knights kissed the King's hands

cap. 242.

Chr. Gen

f. 298.

for what he had said; and they abode in his court, waiting tidings BOOK from the Cid.

VIII.

Munoz

man who

dames to his

XVIII. When Felez Muñoz saw that the voices which they How Feles heard had ceased, he went after a while to a village which was found a good at hand, to seek food for the dames and for himself; and in this took the manner he kept them for seven days. And in that village he house. found a good man, who was a husbandman, and who lived a godly life with his wife and with his daughters; and this good man knew the Cid Ruydiez, for the Cid had lodged in his house, and he had heard tell of his great feats. And when Felez Muñoz knew this he took the man aside, seeing how good a man he was, and how well he spake of the Cid, and told him what had befallen those dames, and how he had hidden them in the wood. And when the good man heard it he had great ruth for them, but he held himself a happy man in that he could do them service; and he took two asses and went with Felez Muñoz to the place where they were hidden, and took with him his two sons, who were young men. And when the dames saw them they marvelled who they might be, and were ashamed and would have hidden themselves; but they could not. And the good man bent his knees before them, weeping, and said, Ladies, I am at the service of the Cid your father, who hath many times lodged in my house, and I served him the best I could, and he alway was bountiful toward me. And now, this young man, who saith his name is Felez Muñoz, hath told me the great wrong and dishonour which your husbands, the Infantes of Carrion, have done unto you. And when I heard it I was moved to great sorrow, and for the great desire I have to do service to the Cid and to you, I am come hither, to carry you, if you will be so pleased, upon these beasts, to my house; for you must not remain in this wild forest, where the beasts would devour you. And when you are there, I and my wife

BOOK and my daughters will serve you the best we can; and you may VIII. then send this squire to your father, and we will keep you secretly and well till your father shall send for you; this place is not fit for you, for you would die of cold and hunger. When the good man had said this, Doña Sol turned to Doña Elvira and said, Sister, the good man saith well, and it is better that we should go with him than remain and die here, for so shall we see the vengeance which I trust in God our father will So they gave thanks to God, and to that good man. his beasts, and led them to the village, and they entered his house secretly, so that none knew of their coming save the good man and his family, whom he charged that they should tell no man thereof. And there his wife and his daughters ministered unto them with pure good will.

Chr.del Cid.

cap. 243.

Chr. Gen.

ff. 288.

How Diego

these dames

ban.

give us.
And he set them upon

when it was now night;

XIX. Then these dames wrote a letter to their father the Tellez took Cid, which was a letter of credence, that he should believe to Santeste- the tidings which Felez Muñoz would deliver, and they wrote it with the blood from their wounds. And Felez Muñoz went his way toward Valencia; and when he came to Santesteban he spake with Diego Tellez, who had been of the company of Alvar Fañez, and told him what had befallen. He, so soon as he heard this great villainy, took beasts and seemly raiment, and went for those dames, and brought them from the house of that good man to Santesteban, and did them all honour that he could. They of Santesteban were always gentle men; and they comforted the daughters of the Cid, and there

The Poem says that they came to the Douro, and he left them at the Tower of Doña Urraca, and went on to Santesteban; saying nothing of the 'good man,'.. on the contrary, both Chronicles say nothing of Diego Tellez. They are easily reconciled, by supposing that one supplies what the other omits.